Incremental racing game

ABSTRACT

Toy apparatus for playing a competitive racing game where each player has a racing piece such as a toy car, and the players each shoot at a target and thereby cause their racing piece to advance toward a finished line. In the illustrated apparatus, each racing piece is connected by a cord to a separate motor. Both motors are contained within a common housing. Operation of a motor acts to draw in its cord, to thereby advance its racing piece toward the finish line. Each motor is provided with a separate control means which includes a target such as a movable element. Each time the target element is moved, the motor advances its racing piece a predetermined increment of distance. Each player may have a missile such as ball, and a separate shooting or flipping means to propel his ball against his target element. Each player tries to hit his target element in as quick a succession as he can to cause his racing piece to reach the finish line before that of his opponent.

United States Patent [191 Goldfarb et al.

[ 51 June 4, 1974 1 INCREMENTAL RACING GAME [76] Inventors: Adolph E. Goldl'arb, 4614 Monarca Dr., Tarzana, Calif. 19356; Erwin Benkoe, 17965 Medley Dr., Encino, Calif. 19316 22 Filed: Feb. 21, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 334,224

Primary E.\'aminerAnton O. Oechsle Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert M. Ashen [57] ABSTRACT Toy apparatus for playing a competitive racing game where each player has a racing piece such as a toy car, and the players each shoot at a target and thereby cause their racing piece to advance toward a finished line. in the illustrated apparatus, each racing piece is connected by a cord to a separate motor. Both motors are contained within a common housing. Operation of a motor acts to draw in its cord, to thereby advance its racing piece toward the finish line. Each motor is provided with a separate control means which includes a target such as a movable element. Each time the target element is moved, the motor advances its racing piece a predetermined increment of distance. Each player may have a missile such as ball, and a separate shooting or flipping means to propel his ball against his target element. Each player tries to hit his target element in as quick a succession as he can to cause his racing piece to reach the finish line before that of his opponent.

2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 1 INCREMENTAL RACING GAME SPECIFICATION:

There have, of course, been a variety of racing apparatus in the prior art as, for example, racing car sets where the players directly manipulate controls, usually to change the speed of the vehicles to accommodate for curves and turns in the track. These are quite sophisticated and expensive toys, and are not particularly adapted to the abilities of younger children. On the other hand, younger children do like to be involved in competitive racing type activity.

The present invention contemplates a toy apparatus which permits younger children to be involved in a competitive racing situation, for the manipulation which is required of the children is greatly simplified and geared to the abilities of younger children. This toy apparatus is sturdy and indurable to withstand rough treatment which young children normally give to toys,

and the level of manipulative ability is low enough so that young children will not become frustrated in their ing piece reaches the finish line first is, of course, the

winner ofthat race. In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the racing pieces are representations of cars which are each connected by a cord to a spring-motor. The motors operate to wind the cords onto drums and thereby advance the racing pieces towards the finish line. In the illustrated preferred toy apparatus, the target is a movable element within the compartment which is hit by the propelled ball. Each time the element is struck it serves to operate the spring-motor to advance the associated racing piece a specific increment of distance.

In another aspect, the targets and shooting means need not be confined within a compartment, but for example may be arranged on an open board.

In a further aspect. play apparatus may be provided in the form of only a single set comprising a shooting means, a missile, a target means, and a motor connected by a cord to a moving piece. The players may then compete with a timer and/or with each other to see how far they can advance the object in a given time, orwith a given number of shoots.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view (partially broken away and in section) showing racing game apparatus comprising a presently preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the game apparatus of FIG. 1, also partially broken away and in section to reveal details of construction;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one racing piece for the illustrated racing game apparatus;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along line 6--6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken generally along line 8-8 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of a modified form of apparatus.

Now to consider the preferred embodiment 20 of the toy racing apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-8. In general, the apparatus 20 comprises a base or housing 22 having a pair of opposed transparent compartments 24, each containing a missile or projectile in the form of a ball 26. Actuating means in the form of propelling or shooting means 28 are provided in each compartment 24 for shooting the ball 26 in that compartment at a target in the form of a movable element 30 also located within the compartment. Each target element 30 is part of a control means 32 for a motor 34 in the housing. Each motor 34 operates to wind a cord 36 on a take-up reel or drum 38, and thereby advance a toy racing car or other piece 40 connected to the outer end of the cord toward a finish line. Each combination of motor 34, control means 32, cord 36 and drum 38 comprise a pulling means. Each player operates his actuating means to strike the target element 30 with the associated ball 26, to thereby operate the associated pulling means to incrementally advance the associated racing car 40. The players thus race to have their car finish the racefirst.

Now to consider the apparatus 20 in further detail. The housing 22 comprises a generally rectangular bottom wall 42, a pair of side walls 44, and a pair of end walls 46. The end walls 46 are generally low, and the side walls 44 arch upwardly from either end toward the center. At the upper center of the housing is a generally rectangular, bdx-like extension 48 having a top wall 50, a pair of side walls 52, and a pair of end walls 54. Each end wall 54 continues downwardly in a curved path, generally following the slope of the housing side walls 44, to provide a bottom ramp wall 56 for one of the compartments 24. The walls 54 and 56 form a ramp down which the ball 26 will roll after it has been shot. This curved ramp wall 56 extends down to meet the end wall 46 of the housing. At each end of the housing, there is a transparent cover section 58 comprised of a pair of side walls 60 and a curved middle wall 62 that provides both the top and end for the cover section. Each cover section 58 is releasibly mounted on the remainder of the housing 22 to define one of the compartments 24. One of the balls 26 is contained in each compartment. The interior of each compartment is visible through its transparent cover section 58. The cover sections 58 are releasibly held in place by suitable means such as rotating twist clamp 59. The illustrated 'wall 56 of the housing thus combine with the walls of the coversection 58 to define the enclosed compartment. There is a generally square opening 64 adjacent the lower and outer end of each ramp wall 56 to permit the associated shooting means to receive and project the ball 26. There is an opening 66 (FIG. 6) in each extension end wall 54 adjacent the upper end of the ramp wall 56 through which the associated target element 30 extends into the compartment 24 for engagement by the ball 26. The housing may be constructed of any suitable material such as molded plastic.

As shown best in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, each flipping or shooting means 28 comprises generally a flipping or shooting member 70 which is pivotally mounted on a transversely extending horizontal axis portion 72. Each flipping member 70 is an elongated, generally flat and rectangular shaped element, with the axis portion 72 at about its middle and extending outwardly to either side. The ends of the axis portion 72 are received respectively in slots in the upper ends of a pair of spaced-apart ears 74 extending upwardly from the inside of the housing bottom wall 42 adjacent one end of the housing.

The inner or forward end of each flipping member 70 has a circular depression 76 in its upper surface, generally conforming to the contour of the ball as shown best in FIG. 2. Thisinner end of the flipping member 70 is disposed immediately below the opening 64 in the ramp wall 56 so that the ball will roll down the ramp wall and seat itself in the depression 76 of the flipping member. The rear outer end of each flipping member 70 extends outwardly through an opening 78 in the housing end wall 46. The flipping member 70 is preferably proportioned and weighted so that with the ball resting in the depression 76, the inner end of the flipping member will be moved downwardly and the outer end of the flipping member will be positioned upwardly as shown in FIG. 2. In this way, downward impact by the child-user on the outer end of the flipping member 70 will flip the inner end of the flipping member upwardly to propel the ball upwardly toward the target lever, as will be described in further detail below. As shown best in FIG. 2, the opening 78 in the end wall 46 and the opening 64 in the ramp wall 56 are proportioned to permit this desired flipping movement of the flipping member. The upper and lower edges of the end wall opening 78 serving as stops for the maximum movement of the flipping member.

The racing piece may take any desired form, and it is illustrated (FIG. 4) as a representation of an auto appearing on both sides of an upright plate 80 of material, such as plastic, cardboard or the like, mounted along its lower edge on a slidable base or support 82.

The illustrated base 82 is a flat rectangular element.

rotary drums 38 located within the central portion of v the housing. The ring 84 at the outer end of the cord 36- may be manually grasped and pulled to wind the spring-motor 34 associated with that cord. Both drums 38 are mounted for rotation about horizontal axis X-X which extends transversely and centrally of the housing. Each drum is mounted adjacent one side of the housing. As shown best in FIG. 7, one cord 36 extends from its drum toward one end of the housing while the other cord extends from its drum toward the opposite end of the housing. Each cord 36 passes through an eyelet 90 secured to the housing bottom wall 42 (FIGS. 6 and 7), and is thereby turned 90 to extend transversely to the housing. The cords 36 then pass through suitable apertures 92 in the same housing side wall 44 and extend outwardly from that side wall as shown in F IG. 1. After the two cords are pulled, they are disposed generally parallel to-one another and generally normal to the side of the housing. The cord lengths are such that when they are both fully pulled, the outer ends will be the same distance from the housing. In this way, the racing paths of the two racing pieces are equal, parallel and side-by-side so that the users can see their relative position in the race at all times. Only one of the motor and control means will be described in further detail, it being appreciated that the other is essentially a duplication thereof.

In general, the motor 34 and control means 32 therefor comprises the Wind up drum 38 which is connected to one end of a coiled power-spring 96, so that when the cord 36 is unwound from the drum 38, the powerspring 96 is thereby wound. The wind-up drum 38 also has a cam slot 98 which interacts with a cam follower 99-on a spring-biased release arm 100 that carries the target 30. Each time the target 30 is struck by the ball 26 to move the arm 100, the spring-motor 34 is allowed to rotate a predetermined amount to wind the cord around the drum and advance the associated racing piece 40 a predetermined increment of distance.

More particularly the illustrated drum 38 is fabricated of two parts (See FIG. 7) whichcombined to form a central hub section 102 and a reel section which includes an annular winding surface 104 and a pair of circular flange portions 106 that extend radially-outinner end and is open at its outward end114. The drive spring 96 is'supported on the shaft 108 but is free to move relative thereto.The shaft 108 extends from one side ofthe housing to the other and is fixedly supported by a spaced apart pair of upstanding end support plates 110 mounted on the housing bottom wall 42. An endcap member 112 fixed to each end support plate 110 receives one end of the shaft 108. Eachend-cap member 112 also has an inwardly facing annular groove in which the outer end 114 of the hub section 102 of the adjacent drum is received. Thus, an end'end-cap member 112 serves to close the outer end of each hub section 102. One end of the coil drive 96 spring is'secured to the stationary end-cap member 112, while the other end of the spring is secured to the end wall 103 of the rotatable hub section. Thus, when the drum rotates, one end of the drive spring 96 is rotated relative to the other to build up tension in the spring. This built up spring tension tends to rotate the drum in the opposite direction. It will be noted, that the drum rotates freely (apart from its. connection through the drive-spring) relative to the shaft 108, the end support plate 110, and the end cap member 112. Rotation of the drum 38 under the influence of the spring 98 is, however, controlled by a cam arrangement of the control means 32.

Each of the release-arms 100 is pivotally mounted at its lower end for rotation about a transverse horizontal axis. In particular, the lower end of the arm 100 is rotatably supported between a pair of upstanding support sections 116 mounted on the housing bottom wall 42.

Each arm 100 extends generally upright and one of the target levers 30 is secured to its upper or free end. As noted above, each target element 30 extends through the opening 66 into the associated compartment 24. As shown best in FIG. 5, each arm is positioned to one side of center and its upper end is inclined toward the center so that it is in direct line with the flipping member 70. Each arm 100 is biased, as by means of a tension spring 118 secured to a post 120 mounted on the housing bottom wall 42, to its stop position where the target element 30 extends it furthermost into the associated compartment 24 (See FIG. 6). Impact of the ball 26 moves the target member 30 inwardly (to the go" position of the right hand element 30 as shown in FIG. 2) and rotates the arm 100 in the opposite direction against the biasing spring 118. This in turn operates, through a cam arrangement to be described, to permit a predetermined amount of rotation of the drum 38. The biasing spring 118 then returns the arm 100 and its target element 30 to the stop position, which serves to stop further rotation of the drum. The opening 66 is proportioned to permit the desired amount of movement of the arm 100.

A pin is mounted on one side of the arm 100 to provide the cam follower 99. The cam follower pin 99 extends into the cam slot 98 which is formed in the adjacent surface of the rotatable drum 38 (See FIG. 8). The cam slot 98 is such that the drum may be rotated freely in one direction (counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 8) to wind the spring and to unwind the cord from the drum, but the drum is not able to rotate freely in the opposite direction. The cam follower pin 99 is normally biased into a position that will stop rotation of the drum in said opposite direction. The drum is released, however, for an increment of rotation when the arm 100 is moved against its biasing spring 118.

FIG. 8 shows in detail the cam slot 98 formed in the inward side wall of the drum 38. As noted above, the drum may be rotated freely in a counterclockwise direction. The cam follower pin 99 (which is biased to the left) will follow a path into a circular center portion 122 ofthe slot 98 and will remain in that center portion so long the drum is rotated in that counterclockwise direction. More particularly, as the counterclockwise rotation is begun, the pin 99 will move first to a transitional area 124. As rotation continues, the pin will emerge from area 124 and will engage an inclined camming surface 126. This inclined surface 126 will then guide the pin inwardly to the circular center portion 122 where it will remain while the drum is rapidly rotated in the counterclockwise direction by the pull on the cord 36. When the pull on the cord is released, the drive-spring 96 will tend to drive the drum in the clockwise direction, however, the urging of the biasing spring 118 will .tend to move the pin 99 outwardly through a transition area 124 and into a stop notch 128,

which stops further clockwise rotation of the drum.

When the target member 30 is engaged to move the arm 100 and the pin 99 to the right (FIG. 8), the pin 99 will be received in the entrance 130'to a zig-zag portion 132 of the cam slot 98. The drum will rotate clockwise and the zigzag slot portion 132 will travel past the pin 99 until the next stop notch 128 is reached by the pin. This will again stop the drum. When the target 30 is again struck and the pin 99 moved to the right, the next zig-zag portion 132 receives the pin for an increment of drum rotation. The illustrated rum 38 rotates one-quarter turn each time the target is hit. The zig-zag portions 132 slow down the rotation of the drum so that the racing car will move at a slower pace. Thus, the cam follower pin 99 rides on the center portion 122 while the spring-motor is being wound by counterclockwise rotation of the drum 38. Then incremental clockwise rotation of the drum is permitted in the opposite direction under the urging of the wound springmotor 34 each time the target is struck to move the arm 100.

Now the play of the game can be readily understood. Both cords 36 are pulled to unwind them from their drums 38 and to wind the associated spring motors 34. This places both of the racing cars 40 at their maximum positions away from the housing 22 and the race is ready to begin. Then on the starting signal, each player uses his flipping member to project his ball 26 upwardly in his compartment 24 to engage his target element 30. Each time a player's ball 26 strikes and moves his target element 30, this effects an incremental movement of his racing car 40 toward the finish line. FIG. 2 illustrates how the ball 26 will typically bounce off the interior of the transparent compartment and engage the target element. The ball then rolls down the ramp wall 56 and back to a position in the depression 76 of the flipping member 70 where the player again propels the ball. In this way, the two players compete to be the one to cause his racing car to be the first to reach the finish line. FIG. 9 shows an alternate form of apparatus 10a wherein the balls, targets and shooting means are not enclosed within a compartment. In particular, the racing apparatus 10a comprises a rectangular board having a generally flat top surface with an open starting end 141 and a pair of opposed side walls or rails 142. Across the rear end of the board 140, a housing 144 may be provided to contain a pair of electric motors 154 which are operative to wind up one of the cords 80a to which a racing piece 40a is secured. The racing pieces 40a are disposed upon the surface of the board for movement thereon toward the rear end of the board. The targets may be in the form of movable elements 30a mounted in the housing 144 and extending outwardly toward the playing surface of the board. The

target elements 30a may be struck by missiles such as a ball, a wheeled toy vehicle or a slidable object thrown, rolled or tossed by each player at his target. For example, a slidable block 26a is shown in FIG. 9. Since the structure of FIG. 9 is open, the player can readily retrieve his block 26a after it has struck his target. Each target element 30a may be biased in the rearwardly direction by a spring 146. Each time the target element 30a is struck and moved forwardly against the spring 146, a contact member 148 carried with the target element 30a engages second contact members 150 to complete an electrical circuit between a battery 152 and the electrical motor 154. This operates the motor 154 to drive, through a suitable gear train 156, a takeup reel 158 to take-in the associated cord 80a. A suitable clutch arrangement (not shown) may be incorporated to permit the cords to be unwound again for a new race.

Various other modifications may be made in the illustrated structures without department from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, alternate shooting means might be provided as, for example, spring-biased, plunger-type shooters commonly used in pin ball machines. As another example, the control means for regulating the driving action of the motor may be varied by the use of an escapement or intermeshing teeth or other structure in place of the illustrated cam arrangement. Further, the form of the racing objects could be varied as, for example, by using a three-dimensional animal figure.Still further, a single set of racing piece, missile, target, take-up means etc. may be provided.

We claim:

1. A competitive racing toy apparatus comprising:

a. a base;

b. a pair of racing pieces;

c. a pair of pulling means on said base, each connected to one of said racing pieces and operable to move said racing piece in increments toward a finish position, the pulling means comprising a movable target, a rotary take-up reel, and a cord secured at one end to one of said racing pieces and at the other end to said reel for being wound upon said reel incident to rotation of said reel, said pulling means further including a motor means for efing an annular cam groove, said pulling means further including an arm on which said target is mounted, means biasing said arm, and a cam element on said arm and received in said cam groove, movement of said target and arm against said biasing means by virtue of said ta-rgets being engaged by actuating means so that said cam element is received in said cam groove permitting a determined increment of rotation of said reel, and

d. a pair of actuating means, each comprising a movable missile and each being individually and separately operable to be propelled against the movable target of one of said pulling means for actuating said motor means thereof andfor moving said target and arm against said biasing means, to effect an increment of movement of the associated racing piece toward the finish position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including spring means connected to said reel, a cord connected to said reel, said spring means acting to rotate said reel so as to wind said cord onto said reel, said cord being pulled to act against and thereby store energy in said spring means. 

1. A competitive racing toy apparatus comprising: a. a base; b. a pair of racing pieces; c. a pair of pulling means on said base, each connected to one of said racing pieces and operable to move said racing piece in increments toward a finish position, the pulling means comprising a movable target, a rotary take-up reel, and a cord secured at one end to one of said racing pieces and at the other end to said reel for being wound upon said reel incident to rotation of said reel, said pulling means further including a motor means for effecting said rotation of said reel, said motor means being actuated by movement of the associated target, said rotary take-up reel carrying means defining an annular cam groove, said pulling means further including an arm on which said target is mounted, means biasing said arm, and a cam element on said arm and received in said cam groove, movement of said target and arm against said biasing means by virtue of said target''s being engaged by actuating means so that said cam element is receiveD in said cam groove permitting a determined increment of rotation of said reel, and d. a pair of actuating means, each comprising a movable missile and each being individually and separately operable to be propelled against the movable target of one of said pulling means for actuating said motor means thereof and for moving said target and arm against said biasing means, to effect an increment of movement of the associated racing piece toward the finish position.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including spring means connected to said reel, a cord connected to said reel, said spring means acting to rotate said reel so as to wind said cord onto said reel, said cord being pulled to act against and thereby store energy in said spring means. 